Gecko Feet Inspire Scientists to Invent Super Adhesive Material

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts have invented a super adhesive material which can hold 700 pounds on a smooth wall.University of Massachusetts

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts have invented a super adhesive material which can hold weights of up to 700 pounds on a smooth wall.

The scientists say they were inspire by the naturally-occurring adhesives found on the feet pads of the Gecko lizards. The product - Geckskin - is about 16 inches in size.

The Geckskin has supposedly impressive sticking abilities but can, nevertheless, be released with only a slight effort and reused several times with no loss of adhesive power. The scientists say, for example, that it can be used to stick a 42-inch television to a wall, released with a gentle tug and stuck again to another surface as many times as needed. Finally, Geckskin doesn't leave any residual marks.

The inspiration for the product - the Gecko lizards - belong to the family of Gekkonidae; these lizards have adhesive pads on their feet that produce force roughly equivalent to carrying nine pounds up a wall without slipping.

"Our Geckskin device is about 16 inches square, about the size of an index card, and can hold a maximum force of about 700 pounds while adhering to a smooth surface such as glass," said Duncan Irschick from the University of Massachusetts.

"It's a concept that has not been considered in other design strategies and one that may open up new research avenues in gecko-like adhesion in the future," said Dr. Michael Bartlett from the University of Massachusetts.